Page 47 of Brew
I can’t stop thinking about her. About what she let me do. Then her attitude this morning, which frankly, I didn’t expect. Did it put me off? Hell no. It only spurred me on, which is why I came down early this morning and happened to be at her desk when she got in. I didn’t mean to scare her, that’s the last thing I’d want, but I’m not letting this slide. She wanted me back, she can deny it all she wants.
“It’s settled,” Logan says. “Sooner we find out what the fuck’s going on with this Gareth character, the better. I’ve got a bar to run and I can’t keep runnin’ over here every time there’s a problem.”
“You’re barely here,” I remind him. “Technically,we’rethe Nomad Brothers.” I motion between me and Haze.
“Yeah, I’m not sure there was a third party in that line-up,” Haze agrees. “We just kinda asked you out of respect, and Ma would have a fit if she knew we kept you out of important decisions.”
The intercom chimes. “Excuse me, Dawson boys,” Erica says through the intercom. “But I have, um, yourmomhere to see you.”
We all immediately look up at the monitor that shows us a view of the front reception. Sure enough, Mom is making her way down the hallway, and then I see Erica jump up to follow her.
“Jesus fuckin’ Christ,” I mutter.
“Uh, Mrs. Dawson, if you wouldn’t mind waiting in the recept?—”
Mom completely ignores Erica as Haze, always the kiss ass, jumps out of his seat to open the door. “Ma?”
When she’s standing in the doorway, she’s not happy. “Out of all the dirty, rotten things my boys have done to me,” she starts. “I never thought I’d be getting a call from my own sister telling me Nova is out of jail, and not only that, she’s staying here!”
Logan pinches the bridge of his nose and Sawyer hides his laugh behind another muffin.
“I’m sorry,” Erica mouths, backing away.
I shake my head. “Don’t worry about it,” I mouth back. Erica disappears, and I feel bad my mom probably yelled at her. She raised three wild boys, so I guess you could say we get our charming personalities from her.
Haze kisses her on the cheek and she swats him away. “Fine thing me havin’ to find out my own niece was on the street, and nobody thought to pick up the phone.”
“Hello, Mother,” Logan says, half standing as he half hugs her.
Then her hawk eyes land on me. “Dylan, you look like you haven’t slept in a week, are you coming down with something?” She’s never been one to hold back the truth.
Ma used to live in Florida, but she thought it a good idea to move to New Orleans last year to be closer to her boys. We all know it’s because none of us are married or have any kids yet, and she’s all about them grandbabies.
I stand, embracing her in a hug. “Ma, you look ravishing.”
She swats me on the arm. “You look more and more like your father every day.”
I roll my eyes. Dad was an alcoholic and an asshole. He died ten years ago, and good riddance. Ma was loyal to the very end, even when he didn’t deserve it. The asshole never touched her again once we were big enough to put him in his place, but the scars will always remain. He ruled with an iron fist, and I vowed that if I ever had kids, I’d be nothing like him.
I’d make sure my kids know they’re wanted. Loved. Cared for. I might have a funny way of showing it, but the people I care about know who they are.
“I’m not sure that’s a compliment,” Haze laughs.
“Always did have a wanderin’ eye,” Ma goes on, taking a seat next to Sawyer.
“Hello, Mrs. Dawson. I’m Sawyer, we met last time?—”
“Perfect, I’m sure you wouldn’t mind making me a coffee, since I’ve traveled halfway across town because nobody’s answering their phones.”
Simultaneously, me, Haze and Logan all check our phones.Shit.
“Of course, ma’am.” Sawyer jumps up, then slides the container across to her. “Blueberry muffin?”
She smiles. Ma never smiles, but of course she’d be under Sawyer’s spell in under thirty seconds. “Thank you, son.”
Son?
“We were in a meeting,” Logan sighs. “And nobody knew about Nova until two nights ago, Ma. She wanted to tell you and Aunt Elsie when the time was right.”
